Spring bed-bottom



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

HIRAM TUCKER, 0F CAMBRlDGEPORT, BLSSACHUSETTS.

SPRING BED-BOTTOM.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13,188, dated July 3, 1855; Reissued April 5, 18159, No. 683.

To all whom t may concern Cambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex and Sta-te of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Spring-Sacking for a Bed or Mattress; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specication and the accompanying drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof.

Of the said drawings Figure 1, denotes a top view of my invention; Fig. 2, is a transverse section of it taken through one of its sectional parts or bearers, the same exhibiting it in its normal position; Fig. 3 is another transverse section exhibiting such sectional bearer as it appears when depressed by a weight laid upon it, the object of this latter section being to exhibit the positions of the flexible band loops thereof under such circumstances.

In these drawings, A, represents a rectangular frame in whichl are to be arranged a series of sectional bearers, such as will be hereinafter described. Each ofthese bearers is composed of an inflexible bar, B, (formed of wood or other suitable material) two lifter or stirrup springs C, C, and two longitudinal helical tension springs D, D. Every stirrup spring C, or C operates to raise its bar, B, upward and it is made of a piece of wire bent somewhat in the form of the letter, U, and also in helices around a staple, E, inserted in -and made to project from the inner side of one of the longitudinal bars, a, of the frame, A, each end of the spring being fixed in the bar a.

The distance between the two lifter springs C, C', of each sectional bearer should be somewhat greater than the length of the inj flexible bar, B, to which they are connected by flexible band loops F, F', as seen in the drawings. Each of these band loops, consists of a piece of leather, linen, webbing or other material having the elasticity of the same. It is doubled made to extend around the upper or transverse part of the spring and to be fastened to the underside of the bar B; the length of that part of the band which extends from the end of the bar to the spring being about equal to, or somewhat greater than thickness of the bar, B. This method of connecting each bar, B, with a stirrup spring causes the flexible band loop to turn upward and toward the end of the bar whenever aweight is placed Be it known that I, HIRAM TUCKER, .of l

onthe bar so as to sink it out of its normal position or into that as represented .in Fig. 3, and it is for the purpose of not only preventing undue and improper longitudinal strain upon the stirrup spring, but also for constituting a joint which is noiseless in its operations.

Eachof the longitudinal tension springs, is fastened at one end, to a projection or ear, Z), extending downward from the bar, B, the other end of the spring being hooked into a staple, c, which is inserted as seen in t-he drawings in one of the bars, a, of the frame, A.

The object of the springs, D, D, is not so much to elevate the bar B, as to contribute steadiness to its movelnents, and prevent it from such longitudinal swaying, as would tend to injure the lifter springs C, C. A mattress orbed foundation composed of a series of the bars, B, and their lifter and tension or counter swaying springs arranged to and within a frame as hereinbefore described, constitutes not only an agreeable and durable support for a mattress or bed, but it is one in which there is lit-tle or no liability of its being sagged in the middle as ordinary spring beds are liable to be by constant use, such being prevented by the peculiar construction or combination of each sectional partor bearer. Each of said bearers being entirely independent of the rest, and not connected to such by any bands or strips extending longitudinally of the frame A, is left perfectly free to accommodate itself to any downward strain which may be brought to bear upon it. Vhile the stirrup springs prevent it from tipping or turning over laterally and serve to raise it vertically the tension springs beside operating as above set forth contribute also to its vert-ical elevation and to counteract the greater part of the strain which may be brought to. bear upon it, the combined springs operating to excellent advantage. I would also state that t'he inflexible bar operates to support only that part of the mattress imposed on it, while t-he lifter springs not only perform such operations (and in a manner different from what an ordinary spiral spring would) but another, viz., that of raising the bar and the part-s directly over them. The lifter springs in some respects may be said to operate like infiexible bars, jointed to the frame, A, and the inflexible bar, B, and sustained on springs.

I am aware that an inflexible bar, eX tended entirely across the frame and supported on spiral springs has been used in a bed foundation. I do not claim such, nor consider such as making part of my invention as it is liable to sag in the middle and is objectionable in other respects. My great object has been to prevent such sagging by employing an inflexible bar extending only partially and transversely under the bed and jointed to other supports or springs eX- tended across the remainder of the distance between the sides of the frame. Such I have found by experience to produce an elastic each of the longitudinal bands connected to its supporting frame byv a helical spring eX- tended from each end of such band to the adjacent end or bar of such frame, but each transverse band or strip of spring steel is connected to the frame by four helical springs, two of which are fastened to each end of such strip, but

lVhat I claim is as follows:

I claim the improvement of arranging and connecting the inflexible bar B, and lifter and counter sway springs (or their equivalents) together and within the frame, Aso that each when a mattress is laid upon it shall extend under against and give support to such mattress and operate as an elastic foundation therefor substantially in the manner as stated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this ninth day of March A. D. 1855.

HIRAM TUCKER `Witnessesz R. H.' EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr.

[FIRST PRINTED 1912.] 

